Verizon joins the ONOS project, furthering support for open source SDN
The Open Network Lab’s Open Network Operating System project on its 1-year anniversary scored a significant membership victory, announcing the addition of Verizon Communications to the program focused on accelerating the adoption of open source software-defined networking and network functions virtualization solutions.
In joining ONOS, Verizon said it was committed to working with members on ONOS-based solutions targeting the development of scalable SDN architectures.
“Verizon recognizes the potential of ONOS as an open source SDN platform and the service provider solutions it enables, as well as the promise it holds to transform the networking industry,” said Brian Higgins, VP of network planning at Verizon, in a statement. “By joining the partnership, we hope to advance open source SDN and NFV solutions based on ONOS and to help shape the future of this ecosystem.”
Verizon joins fellow telecom operators AT&T, China Unicom, NTT Communications and SK Telecom in the project. While bitter rivals in the domestic telecom market, AT&T said the addition of Verizon to the group should help bolster the development and deployment of open source-based virtualization platforms.
“We’re pleased to welcome Verizon to the ONOS community and look forward to many positive contributions from them and others,” said John Donovan, senior EVP for AT&T Technology and Operations. “We’re big believers in using open source platforms and software to build the next generation of cloud-based connectivity services and capabilities for our customers, and we’re glad to collaborate with Verizon in this vision.”
Verizon last year announced SDN plans with five vendors: Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Ericsson, Juniper Networks and Nokia Networks. As part of the announcement, Verizon said it had been working on the move toward virtualized platforms over the past several years, including the creation of live lab environments in San Jose, Calif.; Tampa, Fla.; and Waltham, Mass., and claims to have commercial data center environments on both coasts.
The carrier later in the year launched a software-defined WAN service using Cisco’s Intelligent WAN technology and targeting enterprise customers. Verizon said the platform supports a better user experience by integrated application optimization designed for faster application performance; enabling secure and certified routing platforms; the use of intelligent path control to fully utilize MPLS and the Internet to lower operational costs; and can provision new sites and services faster with a “hybrid WAN to support key business initiatives.”
RCR Wireless News last year spoke with Shawn Hakl, VP of enterprise networking and innovation at Verizon, as part of our weekly “NFV/SDN Reality Check” show about the carrier’s growing NFV and SDN moves.
The ONOS project recently welcomed Alcatel-Lucent to the organization, which joined fellow vendor partners Ciena, Cisco, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Huawei, Intel and NEC. Alcatel-Lucent recently was acquired by Nokia Networks, so it’s assumed Nokia could soon be a name attached to ONOS.
ON.Lab late last year announced a partnership with the Linux Foundation designed to boost open source-based work targeting SDN and NFV. The partnership is said to focus on creating SDN solutions tapping open source software platforms, white boxes, network control and management applications to boost the creation and deployment of SDN platforms.
Bored? Why not follow me on Twitter
